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Bhimuni Kunta
Bhimuni Kunta. Located in Balanagar mandal of Kukapally, Bhimuni Kunta is covered under the Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority (HMDA) Lake Protection Committee.
Lakes of the city 53
Located in Balanagar mandal of Kukapally, Bhimuni Kunta is covered under the Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority (HMDA) Lake Protection Committee. The lake was surveyed in 2013 and according to the reports, the Full Tank Level (FTL) is eight acres, water spread area is seven acres, bund length is 257 meters.
The FTL is 99 meters high while the perimeter is 809 metres. The lake fed by rain water was once used to provide water for agriculture and allied activities and was the main source for drinking water needs of the locals and neighbouring villagers.
Now the lake size has reduced due to flaws in the survey conducted by the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) and local village surveyors who are partial to land sharks. In addition to this, unauthorised permissions granted by the previous governments for construction of houses and apartments in Shikam lands abutting the lake bed and its buffer zone are in contravention to the Supreme guidelines and Walta Act 2002.
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The lake is 15 kilometre from Secunderabad Railway Station and 25 kilometre from Rajiv Gandhi International Airport. Prominent localities near the lake are Shamshi Guda, Jala Vayu Vihar, HMT Sathvahana Colony, HMT Hills and Sai Chaitanya Colony. The nearest MMTS railway stations to the lake are Hitec City and Bora Banda.
History
According to locals the kunta existed since the Nizam’s era. Being located in a high altitude area near Yellamma Cheruvu, excess water from the lake used to flow into Yellamma Cheruvu. The Kunta was very favourable for cultivation and fishing. The local zamindars (landlords) at that time got the surname Bhimuni. It is after that the lake got to be known as Bhimuni Kunta.
Problems
G Balaswamy and MV Krishna Rao of Save Our Urban Lakes (SOUL) said that the lake has been subjected to rampant encroachments. They also alleged that illegal sanctions were accorded on the lake bed, buffer zone and shikam lands for construction of buildings and apartments.
“This is when shikam lands abutting the lakes were commercialised. The FTL boundaries were broken and an unauthorised road was laid and nalas were buried. If the government doesn’t take any action, the lake will vanish in due course against the interest of Mission Kakatiya.”
Telangana Transco divisional engineer Narasimhulu added, “Land sharks with political influence of MLA VVS Sharma had attempted to grab the government land of five acres 10 guntas near the sub-station. But we went to the High Court and got an order in our favour. We are seeking local police help in removing the unauthorised fencings.”
SOUL members appealed to the government to take necessary action to save the historic lake and to hold an enquiry to remove the illegal structures in lake bed and its buffer zone to prevent further constructions. Minister for irrigation Harish Rao said on Saturday that those who encroach lake beds, buffer zones and shikam lands will be dealt with seriously.
By Ch Saibaba
